National Democrats could thwart their hope for turning Texas blue

United States Congressional District 29 candidate Tahir Javed, left, answers a question during the Houston Congressional Candidate Forum at Houston's First Baptist Church Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 in Houston. ( Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle) less

United States Congressional District 29 candidate Tahir Javed, left, answers a question during the Houston Congressional Candidate Forum at Houston's First Baptist Church Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 in Houston. ( ... more

Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle

Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle

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United States Congressional District 29 candidate Tahir Javed, left, answers a question during the Houston Congressional Candidate Forum at Houston's First Baptist Church Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 in Houston. ( Michael Ciaglo / Houston Chronicle) less

United States Congressional District 29 candidate Tahir Javed, left, answers a question during the Houston Congressional Candidate Forum at Houston's First Baptist Church Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 in Houston. ( ... more

Photo: Michael Ciaglo, Houston Chronicle / Houston Chronicle

National Democrats could thwart their hope for turning Texas blue

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The biggest threat to a blue wave forming in Texas in 2018 may be the very Democrats who are trying to generate it.

In less than 10 days, national Democrats have jumped into two key congressional races in Houston and provoked a firestorm of controversy that threatens to undermine Democratic momentum that has been building for over a year, Texas political experts warn.

"Every time there has been national intervention by national Democrats in a Texas race, it has always been chaotic and damaged them in the long run," said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor with the University of Houston.

Rottinghaus said in the two races national Democrats have waded into this year, they risk creating unnecessary divisions in a year Democrats need to be more unified if they are going to win races up and down the ballot in a state that Republicans generally dominate.

"This is a problem in the general election if the Democratic base is divided again," Rottinghaus said.

It started a week ago when U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer antagonized Houston Democrats, particularly in the city's Latino communities, when he opted to endorse Tahir Javed for Congress, a recent Beaumont transplant who moved to Houston just last year. Javed is the only non-Latino running in the seven-person Democratic primary to replace U.S. Rep. Gene Green in the 29th Congressional District, which includes east Houston and parts of Pasadena, South Houston and Galena Park. Hispanics make up 77 percent of that district, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.